XN000022-1975-05-15 — Page 2

THURSDAY, MAY 15, 1975

SPEEDPOST 'ON DEMAND'

SERVICE

TO BE INTRODUCED NEXT WEEK

*****

THE POST OFFICE IS TO INTRODUCE A SPEEDPOST ''ON DEMAND’* SERVICE TO HAJOR TOWNS AND CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES ON MONDAY (MAY 19).

THE MOVE FOLLOWS AN AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND HONG KONG POSTAL AUTHORITIES.

A POST OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY: THE ADVANTAGE OF THE ''ON DEMAND SERVICE IS THAT CUSTOMERS CAN PRESENT PACKAGES AT THE SPECIALLY DESIGNATED 'SPEEDPOST' COUNTERS AT GPO, TSIM SHA TSUI AND KOWLOON GENTRAL POST OFFICES AND AFTER COMPLETION OF THE REQUIRED FORMALITIES, HAVE THEM DESPATCHED BY AIR ON PRE-SELECTED FLIGHTS WITHOUT HAVING TO MAKE PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE POST OFFICE.

+THIS DEVELOPMENT FOLLOWS THE SUCCESSFUL INTRODUCTION OF THE SPEEDPOST CONTRACT SERVICE WHICH HAS DEEN OPERATING TO THE UNITED STATES SINCE JANUARY LAST YEAR, AND IS DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEED FOR AN INFORMAL' SPEEDPOST SERVICE WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF CONTRACT FORMALITIES.+

THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT THE NEW SERVICE WAS NOT INTENDED FOR REPLACING CONTRACT SERVICES BUT FOR COMPLEMENTING THEM.

HE HOPED THAT PRESENT CONTRACT CUSTOMERS WOULD USE THE PON DEMAND' SERVICE TO SUPPLEMENT CONTRACT ARRANGEMENTS AS REQUIRED.

THE SERVICE TO THE USA WILL SECURE DELIVERY WITHIN 48 HOURS OF DESPATCH FROM HONG KONG, ALTHOUGH EARLIER DELIVERY WILL DE POSSIBLE TO CERTAIN CITIES ON THE WEST COAST. THE BASIC CHARGES FOR THE ''ON DEMAND" SERVICE TO THE USA WILL BE $130 FOR THE FIRST 1 LB. WEIGHT AND $20 PER LB, OR PART LD, THEREAFTER.

NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE BRITISH POST OFFICE ARE ALSO PROCEEDING AND IT IS HOPED TO INTRODUCE THE ON DEMAND SERVICE TO ALL LONDON DISTRICTS AND PRINCIPAL PROVINCIAL CENTRES IN THE U.K. IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT SPEEDPOST MAY BE OBTAINER 67 TELEPHONING 5-245992 OR THE P.O. ENQUIRY DUREAU NO. 5-247116.

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